Preschoolers love dinosaurs – so a dinosaur dramatic play center is perfect for capturing their imaginations! This dramatic play center is just right for budding paleontologists, museum curators, and more.

How to Set Up a Dinosaur Dramatic Play
It really doesn’t take much to turn the typical dramatic play center into an archeological site! A trip to the dollar store is first on the list.
Dinosaur Dramatic Play Dollar Store List
- mini flashlights
- tape measures
- magnifying glasses
- plastic dinosaurs
- binoculars
- paintbrushes
Check out this Resource from my Shop!

Dinosaurs Preschool unit
$10.00Explore DINOSAURS with this complete unit that includes 10 circle time lessons, daily lesson plans, activities, and ideas that you need to teach preschool and Pre-K students about dinosaurs. Everything is written out and planned to make your job easier!
More Supplies
Of course, not EVERYTHING is available at the dollar store. A few more supplies make this dinosaur dramatic play even more special. Also useful:
- explorer’s helmets (found at a party store)
- plaster of Paris
- sand
- sensory table or sensory tubs
- rocks, shells, and other

The main attraction at the Dinosaur Dramatic Play is the Dig Site at the sensory table. Of course, a little preparation from the teacher is required. Fill the bottom with some plaster of Paris (the crafting kind). Before it is fully dried, stick inexpensive plastic dinosaurs and dinosaur skeletons (all from the party favor aisle of the dollar store!) in the plaster. Add some large dino footprints for extra excitement. When it is fully dry, top with some sand and a few rocks or shells.

Read a book like Digging Up Dinosaurs by Aliki during storytime and discuss that it takes a team of people to find and remove fossils. Students use the name tags to decide which job they are going to do at the dig site.

All of the paleontology tools are stored in labeled baskets near the dig site.

At the nearby science center, students can examine real fossils and read more about paleontologists.
All of these Dino Dig labels, nametags, full-color Betsy book, and field journals are included in this Dramatic Play Center pack. Enjoy!
Check out this Resource from my Shop!

Dinosaur Dig Dramatic Play
$4.00Little Paleontologists will love digging for dinosaurs and learning about fossils, geology, and more with this unique Dinosaur Dig Dramatic Play center!
This looks like so much fun! I love all the details you included – and the fact that the supplies came from the dollar store! lol!
I love the job tags? Are they available somewhere? I would love to use them for our Dino unit! 🙂
Hi Lauren! Thanks! It's one of our very favorite themes, too. All of the job tags, signs, supply labels and dinosaur book are included in the Dino Dramatic Play Set:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dinosaur-Dramatic-Play-1559773
Enjoy 🙂
Jamie
So does the plaster of paris remove easily from your sensory tub?
Hi Jaime,
Yes, it just pops right out. We wipe away the little bit of dust, but there’s no residue at all. Enjoy!
Jamie